King warns malicious online actors are evolving tactics

King Charles III has used a letter to mark the National Cyber Security Centre’s 10th anniversary to warn that disinformation and other hostile online activity are eroding trust and security. His message was blunt: malicious actors are not standing still, and they are increasingly using automated technologies to change how they operate.

He framed cyber security as more than a technical issue. In his view, it matters not just for business or government systems, but for international order, democratic institutions and the critical infrastructure that daily life depends on. That is a broad brief, and he pressed the point that powerful new technologies bring both risks and opportunities.

The King praised the NCSC for the past decade of work defending the UK against cyber attacks and building resilience across public services, businesses and communities. He also said he was acutely aware that much of what the agency does cannot be praised publicly, and described his gratitude as profound.

The timing matters. Last month, he warned AI executives about the existential dangers of the technology falling into the wrong hands. He told them some people who built these systems are now warning they could develop darker capacities, even to take life, and said the real task is to keep technology in the service of humanity, community and the natural world.

That warning lands in the middle of a fresh incident for Asos, where hackers used the retailer’s own app system to send a pop-up notification to potentially millions of people. The company said it was investigating unauthorised activity involving third-party platforms, while BBC News understands the NCSC offered assistance after the breach.